Redblacks hit hard on first day of CFL free agency, losing four offensive starters

With all due respect to Brad Sinopoli, the Ottawa Redblacks lost the four best players on their offence within the opening hours of Canadian Football League free agency on Tuesday.

Three of them were snatched away by the Edmonton Eskimos, whose general manager Brock Sunderland and head coach Jason Maas were Ottawa’s assistant GM (2013-2016) and offensive co-ordinator (2015) before heading west.

After dusting off the carnage, Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins has approximately $1 million in extra money to spend, with the salary cap likely to settle somewhere close to the $5.2 million it was last season when a new collective agreement is ironed out between the CFL and the players’ association.

Asked during a conference call with local media if he had an ace up his sleeve, Desjardins chuckled.

“Well, the ace up our sleeve is that we’ve proven we can put a winning team on the field,” said Desjardins, whose Redblacks have been in three of the past four Grey Cup games. “Our perspective on that doesn’t change.”

But, no, there is nothing imminent in the way of big name player signing, he added.

“With some of the numbers being bandied about for some of the players right now … it’s not just me,” Desjardins said. “We feel that some of the numbers just don’t fit with what we want to do, and that’s our option to decide that.”

Decisions made, either by the team or the player, were behind the departures of No. 1 quarterback Trevor Harris, star receiver Greg Ellingson and starting left tackle SirVincent Rogers to the Eskimos. Running back William Powell, the CFL’s second leading rusher in each of the past two seasons, inked a deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Redblacks actually came away with nothing from the first day on the market, but they did re-sign 31-year old running back Mossis Madu Jr. before the doors opened.

William Powell: Off to Saskatchewan with the Roughriders.Tony Caldwell /
Postmedia

Each of Harris, Ellingson, Rogers and Powell are in their 30s, but Desjardins said age wasn’t a factor.

“Some chose not to return for whatever reason … personal, whatever it may be,” Desjardins said, “and there are some players we opted not to bring back. There are some players who, financially, we just didn’t feel what was being asked was reasonable within how we wanted to build our roster. “

The biggest hole to fill is Harris, who made $425,000 last season and jumped to the Eskimos for a two-year deal that will reportedly pay him $1.1 million.

“It’s just the function of the finances of it,” Desjardins said. “And the timing of it a little bit, too. At the end of the day, it didn’t work out, and that’s fine. He’s where he wants to be and we’re comfortable with (backup) Dominique Davis being our quarterback.”

Greg Ellingson: off to Edmonton with the Eskimos.JASON FRANSON /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

The Redblacks are losing a fan favourite in Ellingson, who caught the legendary “second and 25” pass from Henry Burris that covered 93 yards and put the team in its first Grey Cup.

Ellingson, also a favourite of Harris’, had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with Ottawa. He also made a reported $210,000 salary with his last contract, and it’s pretty certain he wasn’t looking for a decrease in pay this time.

Rogers relayed his reasons for leaving on Twitter. Included was something about obviously still hard feelings over a member of the coaching staff suggesting Alex Mateas, and not Rogers, should be the team’s nominee for most outstanding lineman in 2018.

“I moved on because I felt it was best for me to do so,” Rogers tweeted. “I didn’t like the structure of the second year of Ottawa’s last offer to me. Respect is everything for me, and I felt that fading toward me in Ottawa. With the MOL debacle, as well as the treatment of other vets, just saw the writing on the wall.. They’ll be fine without me and that offensive line is in good hands, with (offensive line coach John McDonell) and all the loaded talent on it. I love every one of those guys.”

There will be an outcry that from a segment of the fanbase over the Redblacks losing four big pieces from their offence, plus a fifth star with Diontae Spencer bolting to the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers a few weeks ago. However, Ottawa’s strength was its defence last season. The offence finished last in rushing yards, last in rushing TDs, gave up the second-highest number of sacks and finished fifth in points scored.

Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“I don’t know if rebuild is the word,” Desjardins said about the team’s offence. “It will be different. That’s the bottom line. It will be a little different. It will be different guys coming forward and being big playmakers for the Redblacks. That’s OK.

“Do we want continuity? Yes, but at what price, right? That becomes part of the challenge.”

Expressing faith in decisions made by Desjardins was Mark Goudie, the president and CEO of Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group.

“OSEG cherishes brave people with independent thought,” Goudie tweeted. “We believe in our GM & coaches, with good cause, given their track record.

“Your Redblacks have always spent to the CFL salary cap building a TEAM … just spread out a little different than some others. Bring on 2019.”

dbrennan@postmedia.com

A sincere thank you to the Redblacks organization for affording me the opportunity to partner in 4 years of success we had from 15'-18'. 3 Grey Cup appearances, 1 Grey Cup win, a Most Outstanding Lineman of the League Award in 15, 4 straight years of Playoffs, 2 League All (1/2)

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